Biology:Amphistium

From HandWiki
Short description: Extinct genus of fishes

Amphistium
Temporal range: Middle Eocene
Amphistium.JPG
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Pleuronectiformes
Genus: Amphistium
Agassiz, 1835
Species:
A. paradoxum
Binomial name
Amphistium paradoxum
Agassiz, 1835

Amphistium paradoxum (from Greek: ἀμφί amphi, 'on both sides', Greek: ιστίον istion 'sail', and Greek: παράδοξος paradoxus 'extraordinary'),[1] the only species classified under the genus Amphistium, is a fossil fish which has been identified as a Paleogene relative of the flatfish, and as a transitional fossil.[2] In a typical modern flatfish, the head is asymmetric with both eyes on one side of the head. In Amphistium, the transition from the typical symmetric head of a vertebrate is incomplete, with one eye placed near the top of the head.[3]

Amphistium is among the many fossil fish species known from the Monte Bolca Lagerstätte of Lutetian Italy. Heteronectes is a related, and very similar fossil from a slightly earlier strata of France.

References

  1. Roberts, George (1839) (in English). An etymological and explanatory dictionary of the terms and language of geology. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longmans. pp. 7, 145. https://archive.org/details/anetymologicala00robegoog. Retrieved 29 December 2021. 
  2. "Odd Fish Find Contradicts Intelligent-Design Argument". National Geographic. July 9, 2008. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/07/080709-evolution-fish.html. 
  3. Matt Friedman (2008-07-10). "The evolutionary origin of flatfish asymmetry". Nature 454 (7201): 209–212. doi:10.1038/nature07108. PMID 18615083. Bibcode2008Natur.454..209F. 

Wikidata ☰ Q474958 entry